COLOMBO : – UNFPA Sri Lanka is deeply saddened by the passing of Deshamanya Bradman Weerakoon, a revered public servant and unwavering advocate for human rights, gender equality, and people-centred development.
Weerakoon was instrumental in leading Sri Lanka’s delegation to the landmark International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo in 1994, where 179 nations shifted the focus of global development to the rights and choices of individuals, rather than focusing solely on demographic targets. His contributions were vital in shaping Sri Lanka’s commitment to the ICPD Programme of Action, which continues to guide global efforts to ensure Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) for all.
A staunch believer in informed choices and dignity, particularly, concerning reproductive health, Weerakoon’s leadership was profoundly rooted in equity and access. From his early work in the 1970s, expanding family planning services as a Government Agent, to his tenure as Secretary General of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) in the 1980s, where he championed family planning as a human right, his legacy significantly shaped national and global progress in SRHR.
Under his guidance, Sri Lanka’s ICPD delegation advocated for bold ideas, supporting adolescent sexual and reproductive health, gender equality, and linking population dynamics to sustainable development. He skillfully forged consensus on key issues that remain central to UNFPA’s work in Sri Lanka and globally, today.
“Deshamanya Bradman Weerakoon was a phenomenal figure in Sri Lanka’s development journey and an ardent advocate of human rights, gender equality, and dignity for all. His leadership at the 1994 ICPD was instrumental in placing rights and choices at the centre of population and development policy, not just in Sri Lanka, but globally. We are deeply honoured to carry forward the legacy he helped shape,” said Kunle Adeniyi, UNFPA Representative in Sri Lanka.
Bradman Weerakoon’s vision lives on in Sri Lanka’s sustained commitment to ICPD principles and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. His intellect, compassion and influential voice will be profoundly missed.
We extend our deepest condolences to his family, loved ones, and all those whose lives he impacted.
July 7, 2025
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